The older woman sat. “It has. You really must come to Town more often.” Lady Dowling looked directly at Mariel. “Now you have good reason to be here, do you not?”
Marcus gave the woman a perfunctory smile. “Indeed, I do. My lovely betrothed is here.” He moved to stand next to her. “Wherever she is, I will be close at hand.”
Lady Dowling sighed. “Young love. It is so reassuring to see. I only wish my own daughter could find a match soon. We are halfway through the season and still no one has shown an interest.”
Mariel hated to see young ladies pressured into marriage. Her parents had always wanted their daughters to find love, and they had, even if hers would never be her husband. “I’m sure there is a young man about who will see all the wonderful qualities of Lady Sophie. They simply haven’t met yet.”
“That’s quite possible. Getting her to an event takes days of preparation.”
Before Lady Dowling could elaborate on her complaint, Marcus stepped around the settee and into the middle of the parlor. “Lady Wakefield, I fear I must take my leave of you as I have many more calls to make now that I’m back in London.”
“Of course, Lord Blackmore. It was so very good to see you.”
He turned to her. “I look forward to our outing tomorrow.”
“As do I.” She gave him a small nod, belying the quickening of her heart as she anticipated spending time with him again.
After he strode out, Lady Dowling launched into every rumor she’d heard about Marcus. Mariel forced herself not to comment on the most outlandish ones the lady mentioned.
Amelia tapped Mariel’s leg. “Lady Dowling, I heard that Lord Fellingham has run off to Gretna Green with Lady Anna.”
“Oh, my.” Lady Dowling’s eyes rounded. “Lady Anna? I don’t believe I know the young wanton.”
Amelia nodded before launching into an elaborate story about the desperately in love couple, which if Mariel wasn’t mistaken, was completely fabricated. It wasn’t long before Lady Dowling left to spread her new piece of gossip about Lord Fellingham and Lady Anna.
She turned to Amelia. “Thank you.” She cocked her head and raised her brows. “But do you think the upturned mincemeat pie on the villain Lord Montague wasn’t beyond the pale?”
Amelia placed the back of her hand on her forehead and reached out with her other. “Oh, but it was a horrific sight. I thought for sure he had soiled himself.”
Even as she shook her head, Mariel laughed. “I can see you’ve remembered the play Joanna would have us perform at Christmas time. She would be proud.”
Their mother cleared her throat. “I do worry though when Lady Dowling starts repeating that terrible love story, that others will see it for what it is and it will come back to us.”
Amelia waved her hand. “Do not worry. Her daughter will set her straight before long, and maybe she’ll learn her lesson.” She scowled. “I couldn’t sit here and listen to her say that Lord Blackmore had been a highwayman and only came out of hiding because of his brother’s death. And then to insinuate he’d caused the poor man to take ill! Mariel, I don’t know how you could sit there so calmly.”
She grasped her sister’s hand. “Because I have a sister like you.”
“Yes, you are so lucky to have one fun sister and one stodgy sister.”
“Amelia.” Their mother’s tone made it clear she didn’t appreciate the aspersion cast upon Joanna.
Amelia gave a one shoulder shrug and rose. “I best be on my way. So many people to tell about Lady Anna.” She laughed before waving to her mother as she reached the parlor doors just as they opened.
Lady Dulac entered, her mother’s good friend, and soon the two were chatting about the next ball.
But a ball was the furthest thing from her mind. She kept thinking about the book Joanna had given her. What if it had the cure to her barrenness? What if theirs could be a true betrothal? Glancing at the clock, she tried not to fidget. Sometimes being a lady, even a widow, and a betrothed one, could be so trying.
Chapter Ten
Marcus strolled towardthe courtyard at Tattersall’s, Mariel on his arm. She didn’t say anything as they followed Lord and Lady Somerset, but her observant gaze took in everything. When he’d suggested such an outing, he hadn’t known she’d never been to the premiere horse auctioneer in all of England. He’d assumed that with such fine mounts, she had chosen her own horses from seeing them, not reading about them. Now, he was eager to see her reaction to the establishment, and most of all, the choice of horseflesh.
Just as they entered the courtyard with its four-columned fountain in the middle, a groom walked a horse toward the covered walkway to their right.
“Oh, Andrew. That’s a beauty. I must sketch him.” Lady Sommerset took a step in the direction of the horse then suddenly turned about and approached them. She had her ever-present secret smile, which he found very unusual. In truth, Marcus found talking to the couple, each blond and far too happy, a bit uncomfortable. She glanced about then lowered her voice. “I’ve arranged for our coach to come for us in a couple of hours.” Then she grinned widely before joining her husband and hurrying off toward the first horse she’d seen.
Mariel’s brows rose then turned toward him. “It would seem that my chaperone has made other plans.”
He couldn’t be more pleased, his opinion of the younger couple improving. “I promise, I will take the utmost care with you.”
